ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

An Islamic View on Contraception and Abortion

Dr. Mohammed Ali Albar, D.M., M.R.C.P.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/21-2-5527

Abstract
Though procreation is considered the most important function of marriage, millions of women use some
means of contraception and even resort to abortion. Medical reasons conslitute only a small proportion of the
oClualnumber of cases, the reSI being for social and other reasons.
Islam encourages limitless procreation within wedlock; nevertheless, it does not ban the use of temporary
means of conlraception. The use of permanent means of contraception is not allowed unless pregnancy would
pose a threol to the health or life of the expectant mother. Similarly, abortion is not allowed unless the life or
health of the pregnant woman is at real risk.
Serious congenital anomalies of the fetus may be considered as an indicatioll to perform abortion provided it
is done in thefirst 40 days ofpregnancy. A more lenient view would extend it to the first 120 days ofpregnancy,
computed from the time of fertilization.
This paper discusses the different viewpoints of Islamic jurists on these issues, and compares lhem with the ac-
tual practice in Muslim countries.

Key words: Islam, contraception, sterilization, abortion

Islam, Christianity and Judaism look to procrea-
tion as an integral part of marriage. A verse in the
Holy Bible reads, "God said to both Adam and Eve:
Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and
subdue it. "1
The Catholic Church holds the most conservative
and stringent viewpoint against any means of con-
traception, except the physiological regulation of the
menstrual cycle and abstention from sex during the
time of ovulat.ion (rhythm method).
Protestants and most other churches allow aU
methods of contraception, some even including first
trimester abortion.
In Islam, procreation is not only an integral part of
matrimony but, it is considered an act of worship, as
it fulfills AJrah's orders of multiplying and filling the
earth with good offspring. The Holy Qur'an pro-
claims:
"0 Mankind. Be conscious of your Sustaincr, who
has created you out of one living entity, and out of it
created its mate, and of the two spread abroad a
multitude of men and women."2
"And Allah has given you mates of your own
kind, and has given through your mates children and
grandchildren. ")
Prophet MuJ:lammad (PBUH) said to all Muslims:
"Get married, beget and multiply, because 1 will be
proud of you among all nations. ".

He also said:
From the King FaJrd Medical Research Center. Facutty of
Medicine. King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi "0 Men marry the kJnd and fertile, for I wiIJ be pro-
Arabia. ud of your numbers among other nations. "S,.

Repril/I requests: Dr. Mohammed Ali Albar, P.O. Box Though Islamic teachings encouraged procreation
2631, Jeddah, 21461, Saudi Arabia. v.ithin matrimonial bondage, it did not altogether

lIMA: Volume 21, 1989 - Page 79

 prevent the use of contraception.
At the time of the Prophet (PBUH), a companion
of the Prophet called 'Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may
Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet about
" 'azl" (coitus interruptus). The Prophet said: "It is
not forbidden that you may do 'azl. But whatever a
soul that would be created by Allah. will be created
until doomsday."',-
Another companion of the Prophet told him that
he is practicing 'azL The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Practice whatever you may wish, but she will get
whatever is ordained for her by Allah." The man
came back after a while, telling the Prophet that she
became pregnant. The Prophet then said: "Didn't I
tell you that she will get whalever is destined for her
by All.ah?"I-'O
The four schools of Islamic Sunni jurisprudence.
Miiliki, HanbalI, Hanafl and ShaWl. all allow 'azl
(coitus it{terruptus). The l;Ianbali and M8.IikT schools
indicate that the wife should agree to 'azl, because
she has a right in procreation.
The Islamic jurists would divide the contemporary
means of contraception into three categories:
1) Permanent type of contraception
There are some drastic means which cause penna-
nent contraception, e.g . hysterectomy, ovariectomy,
orchidectomy. Such methods had never been resorted
to, for the sole purpose of contraception. They are
usually performed for ailments and serious diseases
of these organs. On the other hand. there are pro-
cedures that are designed for the sole purpose of
sterilization, i.e.. tubal ligation in the female and
vasectomy in the male.
Tubal ligation is often practiced in multiparous
women who suffer from diabetes, renal disease.
hypertension or other medically disabling conditions.
Sometimes vasectomy is practiced on the husband in-
stead of ligation of the uterine tubes of the wife. The
Indian government in the I970s legalized compulsory
vasectomy of males with more than 2 children. in
order to curb population "explosion" in India.
Vasectomy is disliked by male spouses, especially in
Muslim countries. II is rarely practiced as a mean. of
contraception.
Muslim jurists do not allow any type of permanent
contraception except in dire circumstances where
there is a serious disease threatening the life or health
of the individual. II
Vasectomies are not allowed by Muslim jurists.
Tubal ligation should not be resorted to in
multiparous women who had one or even two
caesareans unless the dangers of conception are high.
2) Temporary means of contraception
These include a wide variety of means and way
ranging from the physiological safe period and coitus
interruptus. to mechanical means such as the condom
Page 80 - lIMA: Volume 21, 1989
or diaphragm, chemical agents such as spermicides,
hormonal means such as contraceptive pills, and in-
t.rauterine devices whose mode of action is not known
with certainty.
The physiological safe period seems to be the most
acceptable by the three cardinal religions; Islam,
Christianity and Judaism.
Onanism (coitus interruptus. or 'azl) is allowed in
Islam but not in Catholicism. Onan, the grandson of
Jacob. was probably the first man to use this
method. He spilled his seed on the ground to keep
from producing offspring for his deceased brother
when he married his wife, Tamar. tJ
The mechanical means pose no problem in Islamic
jurisprudence. Similarly, the "piU" is allowed except
where it may cause harm. The judicious use of the
pill is needed; unfortunately, the "pill" is sold over
the counter without prescription in most, if not all,
Islamic countries. Indeed, most. if not all, Islamic
governments encourage the use of the "piU" and
distribute it at nominal prices. This policy is
repudiated by Islam. It acts against the Islamic theme
of procreation and the goal of increasing the number
of Muslims in the world. The Prophet Mu~ammad
(PBUH) ordered Muslims to marry and increase their
numbers.
Intrauterine devices (LU .D.s) pose another pro-
blem. Although the mode of action is not clearly
known, it is thought that it may act by preventing im-
plantation of the blastula. If such is the case. then it
is considered as a type of early abortion. which is not
allowed by many Islamic jursits, e.g., MalikT
schooL I]
3) Aborlion
Abortion is sometimes used as a means of con-
traception. This is quite unfortunate and contrary to
the aims of contraception. Abortion is practiced
widely nowadays for non-medical reasons with at
least 50 million abortions carried out annually
worldwide. In France and Japan, half of all the
pregnancies end in abortion whether carried out
legally or illegally." In South Korea. abortion is
responsible for a 330'/0 decrease in the birth rate."
The Soviet Union was the first country to legalize
abortion on demand in 1920. It was banned from
1936 to 1955. when it was legalized for the second
time. l '
The United Kingdom legalized abortion on de-
mand in the first trimester in 1967; many other coun-
tries followed suit. The United States legalized abor-
tion on demand ill 1973, resulting in 1.5 million abor-
tions annually. Japan performs 2-3 million abortions
every year. 14, Il
Even in the Catholic countries of (he Iberian
peninsula, where abortion is not legalized yet, the
number of abortions is estimated at one million an-
nually. Similarly, in Latin American countries, the
rate of abortion is very high.
There are no available statistics of abortion pro-
cedures eamed out in Muslim countries. However, it
seems that the incidence of elective abortion is low in
comparison with non-Muslim countries. All Muslim
countries incriminate abortions carried out for non-
medical reasons, with the exception of Tunisia. J6
Muslim jurists generally consider abortion pro-
hibited, unless the life or health of the mother is
threatened seriously. Congenital anomalies, if
detected early in pregnancy, may be considered ac-
ceptable reason for allowing abortion by some
jurists.",ll Also, many jurists would allow abortion
in cases of rape. 19 ,20
However, all Muslim jurists agree that abortion is
not allowed if the age of the fetus is 120 days or more
(considered from the start of conception, i.e., fer-
tilization)," whether the fetus is malformed or not,
or even in case of rape. This is simply because 120
days is considered as the time of ensoulment of the
fetus.
Some jurists would not allow termination of
pregnancy after 40 days of conception, whatever the
reason may be, unless the life of the mother is
threatened seriously. 17
Others, who are more stringent, e.g. al-'Imam al-
GhazaJI and al-'lmam Malik, would not allow abor-
tion at any time after conception unless the life of the
mother is threatened seriously. "
Modern medical technology, such as
ultrasonogTaphy, amni.ocentesis, and chorionk villus
biopsy, helps (0 diagnose many congenital fetal
anomalies. These procedures also can determine the
gender of the unborn child with varying degrees of
accuracy. Once this is known many parents would
resort to abortion if tbe fetus happens to be a female
(or the undesired sex). Unfortunately, this practice is
gaining popularity in many Asian countries, e.g., In-
dia and China. In Mahrashtra, a western state of In-
dia, whose capital is Bombay, there are more than
SOO so called sex detection clinics. 2 '
Until recently, female infanticide was common
both in China and India. Since such practice is now
penalized by law, people have resorted to the modern
version of female infanticide, i.e., miscarriage, which
is usually carried out in the second trimester of
pregnancy, as it is often difficult to diagnose the sex
of the fetus in the first trimester. A second trimester
miscarriage is fraught with many complications and
poses greater risks to a pregnant woman.
Concluding remarks
Islam encourages procreation within wedlock
without limits; however, most Muslim governments,
faced by the problem of overpopulation, encourage
the widespread use of contraceptives sometimes by
coercion or even compulsion. Contraceptive pills are
sold to the public at nominal value, and usually can
be obtained over the counter without a medical
prescription. This results in many health hazards, as
they may be taken by hypertensives, diabetics, pa-
tients suffering from varicosities, tumors, liver
disease, or women over the age of 35.
Some Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, are
sparsely populated. The census of 1974 estimated the
population of Saudi Arabia at 7 million, with more
than 3 million aliens. l l In 1986 the population was
estjmated at 10 million, Saudis comprising about 6
million, a population density of 3 Saudis/Km2 . In
comparison, the density of the population in the
United Kingdom is 229 people/Km 2 . lJ These figures
clearly show that the present policy of encouraging
contraception and selling contraceptive pills over the
counter should be changed.
There is much need for reassessment of the present
policies of Muslim governments regarding contracep-
tion. The judicious use of contraception is allowed by
Islamic teachings and this judicious use should be en-
couraged.
The present policy of limiting abortions (first
trimester) to medical reasons and rape should con-
tinue.
Referenc"es:
I. Genesis I :27-28. The Holy Bible. New Interna-
tional Translation; London, Sydney, and Toron-
to: Hodder and Soughton, 1890.
2. Glorious Qur'an, Chapter 4, Verse 4.
3. Glorious Qur'an, Chapter 16, Verse 72.
4. 'Ibn Majal): "Sunan 'ibn Miijah" (Arabic):
Kitab al Nikah (Book of Marriage), Numbr 8.
Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abdul Baql (ed), Cairo,
Egypt: 'Isa al J:Ialabl Publishing Company (no
date mentioned).
5. A~mad 'ibn J:Ianbal: "Musnad Abmad"
(Arabic). Volume 3, Numbers 158, 235. Al:tmad
Shakir (ed), Cairo, Eg),pt: Dar al-Ma'arif
Publishing Company (no date mentioned).
6. Ibid, Volume 4, Numbers 349, 351.
7. $a~iQ al-BukharT. Division 62, "KitTlb al-Nikah I t
(Book of Marriage), Chapter 97, Volume 7, p
102, Numbers 136, 137. M. M. Khan (ed),
Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al 'Arabiyyah Publishing,
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(B~o'k of Marriage), Volume 2, p 732, Numbers
3371-77, 'Abdul J::Iamid Siddiqi (ed). Sh. Muryam-
mad Ashraf, Publisher and Booksellers, Lahore,
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9. AI)mad 'ibn J:lanbal: "Musnad Al)mad"
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Ahmad Shakir (ed) , Cairo, Egypt: Dar aloMa'
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10. 'Ibn Majah: "Sunan 'Ibn Majah", "Kitab AI-
Nika~" (Book of Marriage), Number 30,
lIMA: Volume 21, 1989 - Page 81
 Mu~ammad Fu'ad 'Abdul Baql (ed), Cairo,
Egypt: 'Isa al J:lalab1 Publishing Company (no
date mentioned).
I 1. AI-Qara~awi, Y: "Al-I;Ialal wal-l;laram Fil-
Islam" (The Lawful and the Prohibited in
Islam). Translated by Kamal Al-l;lelbawy, M. M.
Siddique, and Syed ShukTy. Indianapolis, IN,
USA: American Trust Publications, 1985; pp
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12. Ref 1; Genesis 38:8-10.
13. Albar M: "Man'ul-HamJ waHukmuh
FH-Islam". AI-Muslim ~-Mu'a~ir Magazine
(Arabic), 1984 (I404H); 42(11):91-100.
14. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th Ed., Chicago-
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1982, 2: 1069.
15. Potts M, Diggory P: Textbook of Contraceptive
Practice. 2nd Edition, New YOrk: Cambridge
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16. Nazer, I: The Tunisian Experience in Legal
Page 82 - lIMA: Volume 21, 1989
Abortion. IntI J Obstel Gynecol 1979;17:493.
17. Albar, M: The Problem of Abortion (Arabic).
2nd Edition, Jeddah: Saudia Publishing House,
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18. Ghanim I: Abortion as a Necessity (Arabic). a1-
Faysal Med J 1984;9:61-65.
19. Al-Mashhur, AR: "Ghayat Talkh1s ai-Murad
min FalawT Ziyad" (Arabic). Dar al-Ma'arif 247.
Beirut, L~banon (printed with Bughial ai-
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qayatan Wa-'ilagan" (Arabic). Maktabat al-
Farabi, Beirut, Lebanon, 1976; pp 135-153.
21. Tift, S: Curse Heaven for Little Girls. Time
Magazine, Jan. 4, 1988;1:46-47.
22. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th Edition. En-
cyclopedia Britannica, Inc., Chicago, 1982:
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23. Ref 14; Micropedia 10:266.